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Reuters
3 hours ago
- Reuters
India plans to ban online games played with money, citing addiction risks
NEW DELHI, Aug 19 (Reuters) - India's government plans to ban online games played with money, a proposed bill showed on Tuesday, in what would be a heavy blow for an industry that has attracted billions of dollars of foreign investment. Citing psychological and financial harm it says can be caused by such games, the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025 says that no person "shall offer, aid, abet, induce or otherwise indulge or engage in" the offering of online money games and such services. The 13-page bill, which has not yet been made public but has been reviewed by Reuters, describes an online money game as one played by a user by depositing money in expectation of winning monetary and other enrichment. The Indian market for such gaming is set to be worth $3.6 billion by 2029, venture capital firm Lumikai says. Endorsements by top Indian cricketers and other marketing efforts have boosted appeal and investor interest of real money gaming apps such as the popular fantasy cricket games operated by startups Dream11 and Mobile Premier League. Dream11 commands a valuation of $8 billion while Mobile Premier League is valued at $2.5 billion, PitchBook data shows. The Indian government has long been concerned about how such games are addictive. India's IT ministry, which has drafted the bill, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. MPL and Dream11 declined to comment. In fantasy cricket games on Dream11, users create their teams by paying as little as 8 rupees (10 U.S. cents), with a total prize pool of 1.2 million Indian rupees ($14,000). The apps become more popular during the Indian Premier League season, one of the world's most popular cricket tournaments. The bill states that anyone who offers such money games could face a jail term of up to three years and a fine. "Such games often use manipulative design features, addictive algorithms ... while promoting compulsive behaviour leading to financial ruin," the bill said.
Reuters
4 hours ago
- Reuters
Mane sees red as Al-Nassr edge Al-Ittihad in Hong Kong thriller
Aug 19 (Reuters) - Sadio Mane became the third Al-Nassr player in as many Saudi Super Cup editions to be sent off, but his early goal and a second-half strike from new signing Joao Felix secured a 2–1 win over Al-Ittihad in a tense semi-final on Tuesday. Mane opened the scoring in the 10th minute at the Hong Kong Stadium with a powerful volley after a low cross from Croatian midfielder Marcelo Brozovic. However, the Senegalese forward was shown a straight red card in the 25th minute for a reckless challenge on Al-Ittihad goalkeeper Hamed Al-Shanqity, confirmed after a VAR review. The dismissal continued a troubling trend for Al-Nassr in the competition, following red cards for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2023 and Brozovic in 2024. Dutch winger Steven Bergwijn equalised for Al-Ittihad in the 16th minute, finishing off a swift counterattack with a low shot from the edge of the box. Despite being reduced to 10 men, Al-Nassr regained the lead in the 61st minute when Felix, who joined the club this summer, latched onto a through ball from Ronaldo and slotted past the keeper. Moments later, Felix thought he had grabbed a second, but his drilled shot was ruled out by VAR for a Ronaldo foul on Fabinho in the build-up. Al-Nassr advance to the final, where they will face the winner of the second semi-final between Al-Qadsiah and Al-Ahli on Wednesday.
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Star boxer Nikita Tszyu reveals the troubling reason he quit his old life as a white-collar worker
Nikita Tszyu has revealed that a 'spiritual experience', where he realised that he enjoyed 'inflicting pain and being a little devil', was the reason behind why he opted to quit his job in architecture and instead pursue a full-time career in boxing. The 27-year-old Australian is set to make his return to the ring on Wednesday night following a year-long hiatus. The 10-0 southpaw is set to square off against Macedonian fighter Lulzim Ismaili, aged 28, at the ICC Sydney Theatre. Tszyu, who is the younger brother of Aussie star Tim Tszyu and the son of former world champion Kostya, had previously pursued a career with international architectural firm Woods Bagot. As a youngster, it looked as though Nikita would follow his dad and brother into the sport, impressing as a junior fighter before opting to quit at the age of 16 to pursue a career in architecture. He'd later gain a Bachelor's degree in Architectural Design at the University of Technology Sydney. But he would feel unfulfilled by the line of work. 'I've never spoken about this before, but I had a spiritual experience that showed me my true desires in life,' the fighter told The Courier Mail. 'It was a vision of pain and suffering, darkness and evil thoughts. 'At that stage of my life, it was showing me the things I desired most in life, and that was inflicting pain and being a little devil. 'It was essentially the feelings I get from boxing. 'So I knew I'd regret it for the rest of my life if I didn't pursue boxing while I still could.' Nikita explained that boxing has provided him with a way to deal with those dark thoughts, adding that he didn't know where they came from. 'Boxing is the legal way to unleash it,' the fighter added. But he is OK if he doesn't win world titles. In fact, Nikita explained that he wants to use boxing, and his dark thoughts, to help provide for his family. 'Once boxing is done, my plan is to have that side of me released through being on a farm with animals and out in the wilderness. 'I want to use that darkness to feed my family.' Nikita, who revealed last week that he had been eating his wife's placenta and drinking her breast milk in a bid to ingest more vitamins, last fought in August 2024, where he bested Koen Mazoudier at the ICC Exhibition Centre in Sydney. Interestingly, should he win on Wednesday night in Sydney, there is talk that he could headline a fight card in Las Vegas on the same weekend as the NRL's opening round extravaganza in Sin City in 2026. It is an opportunity that excites the 27-year-old fighter, but what's even more enticing is that he could come up against heavyweight great Evander Holyfield's son, Evan, among several other big names. That's according to Fox Sports, who claim the idea had initially been to have his older brother Tim headline the event. Nikita branded the news 'perfect'. 'Already having so many Australians there in Las Vegas, the atmosphere would be electric,' Nikita said. 'Right now, I'm taking each fight as it comes. 'And I do have to take care of business here before heading overseas. 'But what I like is new experiences. 'And being able to experience something that the greatest boxers in the world do – fighting in Las Vegas, the pinnacle – it's something I would absolutely love.
